Pneumatic self-playing musical instrument.



Y L. B. DOMAN. PNEUMATIC SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 13, 1906.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

W W m E w g M k a v W y M K. a v w N 257/222 m 9 u 9 ns'i'ran srarns PATENT ()FFlCE,

LEWIS B. DOMAN, OF ELBRIDGE, NEW YORK.

YNEUMATIG SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb] 16, 1909.

Application filed March 13,1906: Serial No. 305,761.

Slate oi. New York, have invented new and I Playin useful improvements in Pneumatic Self- Musical Instruments, of whichthe following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is at'ull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in pneumatic. self-playing musical instruments, and refers more particularly to a pedal accentuating device interposed in the connection between the wind-inducing element and the sound-producing devices whereby a sudden or impulsive action of one or both pedals causes a simultaneous cutting out of a portion of the vacuum chamber normally acted upon, and concentrates the full torce of the wind-inducing element through a comparatively small passage to the sound-producing devices.

in this class of piano-players it is desix-able to employ what is commonly knowm, as an equalizenbellows of sufficient volume to maintain a uniform air tension in the passages leading to the sound-producing pneumatics. This equalizer which is placed in communication with the direct passage between the wind-inducing element and sound-producing devices is always more or less collapsed against the action of a distending spring or equivalent device during the normal action of the pedals and the essential object of my present invention is to provide an auto pneumatic music playing instrument means whereby connnunicationbetween the direct passage and equalizer may be instantly cut oli by a sudden increase of air tension in such passage as produced by a quicl: impulsive action of the pedal or wind-inducing device connected thereto so that the concentrated and magnified tension may operate instantly upon the sound-producing; pneumatics for the purpose of acccntuating the notes represented by the apertures in the music-sheet which may be registered with the ducts of the tracker.

in the drawings, 1 have shown a vertical sectional'view of a portion of a self-playing musical instrument embodying the various features of my invention, which consists s; sentially in providing a communicating;

port l between an equalizer -2, and

normally open valve el, such valve being held 1n its normal open position by any suitable yielding means'consistmg in this 5. This valve '-lis mounted upon the free end of the spring -5 between the port l and interior of the equalizer i, and is provided with a cushion face 6 adapted to seat against the side of the port facing the interior of the equalizer -2 for the purpose of closing communi- Ication between the passage -3- and in 'tcrior. of the equalizer when the air tension in the passage -3 is abnormally increased by a sudden or accelerated action of the pedals acting upon the wind-inducing element. This wind-inducing elhment may be this instance, consists of an ordinary feeder bellows 7--- communicatingr through a suitable port -8- with the passage 3 and adapted to be positively actuated in both directions through the medium of one or more pedals 9 and connecting links -l0.

The wind-passage -3 is connected by a conduit 1lto the Wind-chest, a -12, ot' the soundproducing devices, as a series of pneumatics -l3 which may be arranged to act directly upon the keys of a piano, or may be adapted to operate directly upon the hammer-action, or upon other musicproducing devices.

The port S is provided with a suitable checl-:-valvc 8 similar to the valve 7 of the wind-inducing pneumatic 7 to prevent ret ntrance of air from the latter bellows.

The sound-producing devices, as the pneumatics l3, are controlled by suitable primary pneumatics Id and valves -l5 in the wind-chest 12, the valves -15- being controlled by the primary pneumatics -ll-, which, in turn are controlled by a perforated music-sheet 16, and co-acting trackenducts -17 leading to their respective primarypneumatics let.

The action of the primary pneumatics -l4; and their valves -15- as controlled by the perforated music-sheet and trackerducts to alternately connect the sound-pro ,ducing devices, as the Pneumatics 13--- wind-chest or air passage 3- with a of any suitable size or construction and in instance, of a comparatively light spring lUU with the wind-inducing element and atmos phere is well understood by those skilled in this art and it is, tberetore', unnecessary/to enter into a further description or such action.

it Will be seen, upon reterence to the drawing, thatthe Wind-inducing device i'-, which is actuated by the pedals 9 is in direct communication through the medium of the passage and conduit' --1lwith the exhaust chamber of the Willd CllQSf 12-, and that the. equalizer Z- communicates through the port -l with the wind-Way between the Wind-inducing device -i and wind-chest l2 so th t practically the same air tension in the Wind-way 3- and wind-chest 12- is main ained in the equalizer 2-, thereby tendin to collapse the equalizer against the action cl? :1 distending sprin 1S. This partial collapse of he equalizer bein op- R distending pring l.8- op- Z 311 spring 5 which is adjusted to resist the action of the valve under a normal or predetermined or resilient excess airaeusion lending to close the valve l. This excess tension may be produced by impulsive or quiclt powerful action of the. foot upon the pedals, and Wind-inducing devices connected thereto, which, in turn, acts upon the valve -*l-- to draw it against its seat, thereby temporarily closing the port -l and cutting out or nullifying the etl'ect of the equalizer --2-, and at the same time, diverting the full force of the increased tension directly into the wind-chest and soundj producing pneun'iatics -13- Which may be in communication therewith. As soon as the excess tension of the air 1n the windwav --3 and wind-chest 12 1S relieved by the normal actionof the Wind-inducing device the spring, 5- returns the valve 4- to its normal position.

Ky cutting out the equalizer 2- by the closing of the valve 4:--- it is evident that the volume of air to be exhausted by the wind-inducing device is materially reduced and that the full force of the wind-inducing device is brought to bear upon the soundproducing pneumatics 13 which may be in communication therewith for accenting tension, but is suliieiently light to yield under the action ot an erases the notes which these pneumatics repres nt, and that immediately upon reduction of the. air tension the valve -lrecedes from its seat, and the action of the sound-producing pneumatics -18 is correspondingly less forcible.

Whatl claim:

1. In a pneumatic selfplaying instrument, at Wind-inducing device and a soundproducing device communicating therewith, an air chamber in the connection betvveen said devices, a single yielding valve controlling communication between said air chamher and connection, said valve being normally open under a predetermined air tensionand adapted to be closed by a sudden increase of the air tensiomwvhereby said air chamber is cut out of communication with said connection.

2. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a Wind-inducing device and an equalizer communicating therewith, a single valve controlling such comuuinication, yie in: the valve open, said valve being adapted to be closedby a sudden increase of air tension from the wind-inducing device, whereby the equalizer is cut off from communication with the Wind inducing device.

In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing device, including an air chest connected to the wind-inducing device, an equalizer communicating with the wind-inducing device and air chest, a single valve controlling such communication and normally open under a certain air tension, said valvebeing adapted to be closed by a sudden increase of air tension by the indinducing device.

4. In a self-playing musical instrument,

a pedal-accenting device comprising a Windinducing element and its pedal actuating means, an equalizer communicating with the Wind-inducing.device, an air chest also cominunicatin; with the wincl inducing device and equalizer, a single normally open Valve controlling communication between the equalizer and Wind inducing device and adapted to be closed by quick impulsive action of the foot upon the pedal and consequent increase of air tension by the Windinducing device.

5. In an auto-pneumatic music playing in strument, a wind-chest or its equivalent, a feeder bellows for exhausting air therefrom, means for manually operating the latter, an equalizer or its equivalent, comprising a single valve for permitting the operator to instantly secure by the abnormal action of the feeder bellows a higher tension in the wind-chest than in the equalize I 6. In an auto-pneumatic music playing instrument, an action or Wind-chest, a feeder lin means normall holdbellows in communication therewith, means In Witness whereof I have hereunto set for normally equalizing the degree of exmy hand this 27th day of February, 1906. haustion in the Wind-chest when the feeder bellows is operating normally, and compris- 7' LEW-IS DOMAN ing a single valve controlled by the abnorj Witnesses: mal action of the feeder bellows forprao i I E, ELLIOTT,

tieally nullifying the action of the equalizer NE'LLLE A. BIBBENS 

